Letters to the editor: False arguments against minimum wage criticized

March 27, 2014 12:01 AM

March 27, 2014 12:01 AM

Raising the minimum wage, insurance for all, care for the elderly -- all cause a spontaneous collective gasp from the self-serving.

When I read the article "Money matters" (Erie Times-News, March 18) and how a professor had commented that he did not think mucking a stall was worth $10 an hour, I had to shake my head.

I would like to tell the learned professor to "muck it yourself" and see what it is worth. I would gladly pay $10 for such a chore and probably throw in a tip.

When folks say we would lose jobs if we give the working poor any breaks, they are communicating a dangerous fallacy. It is a part of the tearing of the fabric of humanity -- us vs. them, haves vs. have nots -- until we lose the very foundation of our civilized society.

Mixed metaphors aside, the research indicates that raising the minimum wage will have little impact of the returns to the rich. So stop it. After all, it causes me to re-look at recommending any family members to an institution who would hire an economist who cannot understand basic, simple math.

Cheryl SteeleErie

Helping police

not optional

I read this section a lot and have thought about writing on a couple of issues but never have. I would just like to put it out there that the victims of crimes who don't help police or prosecutors by not showing up for court are just letting these people get away with the crime committed against them. They are also letting them commit crimes against others.

My view is if you are not going to help convict these people, then you should be charged as an accomplice with the next crime they commit, as they would not be on the street if you just stood up.

R. LichniakErie

Students don't

require help

In reference to Dacey Wohlford's letter "College prep info important" (Erie Times-News, March 18): There are hundreds of websites available concerning the entire college preparation process.

If you have the intellectual abilities necessary for the rigors of higher education, surely you can locate these sites with a few clicks or taps. This step will kick start your self-reliance and independence.

Gregory SwabbMillcreek Township

Statewide database

for drugs needed

I am writing on behalf of the Pennsylvania Medical Society to express our support for state Sen. Patricia Vanc's amendment to Senate Bill 1180.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Report from November 2011, Pennsylvania ranks ninth in the nation for drug overdose deaths, with 15.1 for every 100,000 population. While no single action will completely erase that tragic statistic, the creation of a statewide controlled substance database is an essential element of any solution.

It would be a huge help to Pennsylvania physicians to be able to find out if a patient has recently filled a prescription for a controlled substance from another physician. The ability to access a controlled substance database to help identify scammers is a reality for physicians in many states, but not in Pennsylvania. Exacerbating the problem, scammers know that Pennsylvania is among the few states that don't have a controlled substance database.

Bruce A. MacLeod, M.D.Pennsylvania

Medical Society, Harrisburg

Health-insurance

groups to blame

In regard to the article "Many health-insurance plans freeze out best cancer centers" (Erie Times-News, March 19), this infuriates me. This Associated Press article depicts the Affordable Care Act as the culprit for inaccessibility of cancer patients to receive care at many prestigious cancer centers. The real truth is the insurance companies have circumvented and found a loophole, as they will no matter what is mandated to them.

Let's speak the truth. The health-care act has mandated that insurers cover all cancer patients and set no limits for coverage or refuse to insure for any reason. The insurance companies have elected in order to keep their profit margin high to only allow those who are covered under the act being subsidized by the government to receive care for cancer by limiting to centers where not all treatments are available. Then they have the audacity to blame the government for their decision.

To add salt to the wound, the press then writes how it is the fault of the act and the insurance companies, physicians and hospitals are victims to this law. Ugh.

The real truth is, the cancer patients themselves are still the victims and are being shafted by all parties except the law, which is trying to ensure patients get the care they need. For me this is another reason we need a one-payer system.

Medicare for all.

Teresa ChylinskiErie

Harborcreek site

can't handle traffic

No rerouting of emergency vehicles, no road closings or disruption of traffic flow, no need to construct a new road or widen existing roads, no increase of noise and air pollution near schools and athletic fields, and no unnecessary danger at schools and school crossings.

DevelopErie's John Elliott stated the impact of a single tractor-trailer creates more damage to roads than nearly 2,000 automobiles. Why not prevent these negatives to townships and boroughs and their commercial and residential areas? Why create problems in these areas when you can reduce the miles traveled to the proposed location on Walbridge Road by traveling just one block east off the Bayfront Connector at the 12th Street exit?

Can you imagine the line of cars and trucks sitting at the red lights in Harborcreek?

The entire area from East Avenue to the eastern boundary of GE Transportation on the south side of East 12th Street is industrial. The need for rail track is comparable to that from GE to Downing Avenue. Is there a plan to repair the rail bridges over Water Street to accommodate rail cars sitting on them for extended periods of time or even for the increased volume of rail cars passing over them?

I suggest having one of your reporters take a look at the bridge conditions. What better way to make use of the area that was supposed to house the failed juice plant project than to build the inland port on that site?